Lodging, campgrounds, and most other public facilities on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will close for the winter on October 15. Visitors exploring the North Rim on, or after, October 16 should plan to be self-sufficient and bring enough food and water for the day.

Perched on the rocky shore of a wilderness island in Georgian Bay, two “flowerpots” stand a respectful distance from each other, oblivious to the crowds surrounding them and the commotion they have caused for two centuries. These gravity-defying, some say mythical, sea stacks were formed when lake erosion “ate” at either side of stronger parts of the rock and eventually left the pillars isolated on the shore. Isolated in a geographic sense, yes — but rarely alone.

During her road trip through four Canadian Rockies national parks, Traveler contributing photographer Rebecca Latson managed to hike a few trails, two of which are in Kootenay National Park. She writes about these hikes for the Traveler’s “Trails I’ve Hiked” series.

OLD FAITHFUL—Liz Adkins saved for four or five months to afford for her family to visit Yellowstone National Park.